Writing equipment



May 18, l954 l H. c. KLAGGEs ETAL 2,678,635

WRITING EQUIPMENT Filed July ll, 1949 HENRYCKLAGGES t. HAROLD E. smNm JNVENTORS Patented May 18, 1954 WRITING EQUIPMENT Henry C. Klagges, Collingswood, N. J., and Harold E. Steinberg, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to The Esterbrook Pen Company, Camden, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 11, 1949, Serial No. 104,038

12 Claims.

Our invention relates to Writing equipment in which uid ink is employed and to means Whereby inl: is supplied to a writing assembly comprising a pen nib and a fountain feed-bar associated therewith; such ink being stored in capillary spaces of the Writing assembly for instant delivery to the pen nib When the latter engages a writing surface.

In carryingr out our invention we preferably provide an ink container in the form of a relatively heavy receptacle having a broad base that precludes upsetting in normal use. This receptacle is provided with a detachable cover or top having an inclined dipping opening for the reception of the pen nib and iountain feed-bar assembly. When this assembly is disposed in the our improved ink-charging means, the pen nib and the fountain feed-bar have cooperating parts whereby they are maintained in proper relationship and the fountain feed-bar is provided with a threaded portion whereby it may be screwed into the threaded socket at the end of the pen staff or penholder; the association of pen nib and fountain feed-bar in such position being such that the parts will be maintained in proper relationship after insertion in the pen stai or penholder. This latter form of Writing assembly is found in the pending application of Henry C.

dipping opening of the cover, it is supported out of direct contact with the body of ink in the receptacle and receives a supply or charge of ink by capillary action from ink-lled spaces or interstices of a group of filaments loosely supported in the body of ink; the fountain feed-bar having capillary spaces in which the ink, rising by capillary action, is stored for subsequent use in a Writing operation.

An important object of our invention is to provide simple and ecient means whereby a Writing l assembly comprising a pen nib and' a fountain feed-bar carried by a pen staff or penholder may be supported in the dipping opening of the cover of the ink receptacle and receive and store a supply or charge of ink in their capillary spaces from the inl: in the receptacle Without direct contact of the Writing assembly with such body of ink. In the present instance We have shown a fountain feed-bar having a comb providing capillary Klagges, iiled May 17, 1947, Serial No. 748,675, now Patent Number 2,601,846. In any form of Writing assembly that may be employed with our improved Writing equipment, a portion of the ink that advances or rises by capillary action Will follow a part or all of the capillary slit of the nib.

A further and most important feature of our invention comprises the disposal Within the ink receptacle; preferably supported by its cover, of a suitable group of laments unaected by the chemical nature of the ink and whose interconf necting and/cr communicating interstices or voids will fill with ink from the main supply, and to arrange the Writing assembly comprising a pen nib and a fountain feed-bar in such relation to the filaments that the end of the pen nib and the end of the fountain feed-bar will enter the inklled spaces thereof; a portion of which ink Will rise or advance by capillary action and, via chan-,-

- t nels or passages at the end of the writing assemstorage spaces at right angles to its longitudinal i axis; such feed-bar being so associated with the pen nib as tc assure the presence of a capillary channel or passage between the pen nib and the fountain feed-bar at the ends of the same so that ink may rise in such capillary channel or passage and enter the capillary spaces of the same including the storage spaces provided by the comb of the feed-bar and be held therein until the writing assembly is employed in a Writing operation whereupon the ink will pass from said capillary storage spaces to the writing end' of the pen nib as soon as the latter contacts with a Writing surface. In one form of Writing assembly which we employ, which form has come to be known in the trade or art as a Renew Point, the fountain feedsbar and the pen nib are iixed in a sleeve having a threaded portion whereby it may be screwed into athreaded socket at the end of a pen staff or-penholder. In another form of Writing assembly which We have employed with bly, enter and fill the capillary storage spaces of the fountain feed-bar Where it will be held for subsequent passage to the pen nib during a writing operation. Such ink supply or storage in the capillary spaces of the feed-bar will be maintained and replenished as long as the pen nib and the fountain feed-bar are in engagement with the ink-lled spaces of the group of lilaments.

While We have referred to fountain feed-bars ofthe type having combs providing capillary storage spaces at right angles to their longitudi-ll nal axis, it is within the scope of our invention to employ any form of fountain feed-bar having capillary spaces for the reception and storage of ink for' subsequent use in a writing operation.

To the end that the Writing assembly comprising the pen nib and the fountain feed-bar may receive and store ink, the ink receptacle contains a loosely confined group of laments which are of such nature and are so arranged as to provide a large number of void spaces or interstices of capillary dimensions in interconnected relation which will i'lll with ink, and to arrange the Writing assembly in such position with respect to the loosely confined filaments that the forward end of the pen nib and the forward end of the fountain feedbar may dip into the ink-filled spaces in the upper zone of such group of filaments and, via passages or channels of suitable capillarity, transfer ink from such ink-filled spaces to the capillary spaces of the fountain feed-bar.

The filaments which we employ and which provide the capillary interstices or voids for the .reception of ink are preferably the product of an extrusion operation whereby a, jelly-like mass of a suitable plastic composition is extruded as a single filament through an orifice of the desired shape and size and subsequently cured or hardened. As plastic materials which Ymay be employed in the production of these filaments by a continuous extruding operation may be mentioned polyethylene (polythene); polyvinylidene chloride (Saran); polystyrene (Styron); polyamides (nylon), etc. it is also possible to employ filaments of certain metals unaffected by the chemical nature of the ink. And, in some instances, laments of certain types of glass may be employed. In all instances the filaments must be of a nature to be readily wettable by the'ink.

Filaments produced by an extruding operation are single, unitary, bodies of substantially the same gauge or cross-sectional dimensions throughout their length. While they are usually straight, they are frequently more or less wavy in surface appearance. We prefer to employ filaments made from a plastic composition since they offer slight resistance and the ink-filled spaces or interstices between them are readily penetrable by the end of the pen nib and the end of the fountain feed-bar. We have successfully used groups of straight filaments as well as those having a wavy appearance. Filaments of polythene, for instance, which we have successfully used in our improved writing equipment, are relatively soft and pliable but lack resilience. Their tensile strength is slight and they may be stretched to decrease their crosssectional area or dimension. Nylon, on the other hand, which has also been successfully used in our improved writing equipment, has greater tensile strength and is relatively non-stretchable. Polythene filaments are of less specific gravity than uid ink and tend to float in their loosely assembled condition in the chamber of the carrier in which they are disposed when the latter is placed in a supply of ink. Nylon filaments are of greater specific gravity than fluid ink and will not rise in the same.

In preparing this lamentous material for use in carrying out our invention, the continuous lament, of whatever material used, is cut into relatively short sections of predetermined length, for a reason hereinafter set forth. These individua-l sections we have termed mono-dlaments; a term that will be used throughout the specication and claims. When the desired quantityv of these mono-filaments are assembled for use, they lie horizontally and in substantial parallelism; an arrangement that may be modified by any wavy configuration that may exist. In this substantially parallel arrangement of the mono-filaments they present a large number of void spaces or interstices of capillary dimensions, variable cross-sections and variable capacities, and when any group of the same assembled for our purpose is placed in a supply of ink, ink will rise and lltheseinterconnected capillary spaces or'interstices. When the writing assembly comprisingthe pen nib and the fountain feed-bar is presented to the same and entered between the mono-filaments in the upper layer or zone thereof, the ink from such ink-filled spaces will pass via capillary passages or channels at the end of the writing assembly into the capillary storage spaces of the fountain feed-bar.

Due to inherent capillarity, the void spaces or interstices between loosely confined mono-filaments will maintain a supply of ink extending to the spaces or interstices of the upper area or zone as long as any ink remains in the ink receptacle. Hence, while the mono-laments within their .container may be practically submerged in the ink after initial or any subsequent filling of the ink-receiving space of the receptacle and have their capillary spaces or interstices filled; as the ink is consumed and its level in the receptacle lowers to and passes below the writing point of the pen, ink will be held by capillary tension in the spaces or interstices throughout the group of mono-filaments including the upper zone thereof and will be supplied thereto by capillary action as long as any ink remains in the receptacle, ready for transfer by capillary action to the writing assembly for storage in the capillary spaces of the fountain feed-bar.

Itis desirable that'the gauge or cross-sectional dimension of the mono-filaments shall be lsuch as to present a multiplicity of capillary spaces or interstices whereby sulcient capillarity of the whole group will be provided. After countless experiments with filaments of various materials and cross-sectional dimensions we have found that a group of approximately to 160 mononlamentshaving a gauge of approximately .028" will provide the desired capillary vspaces or interstices throughout the same for the reception of asupply of ink that may be transferred by capillary action to the pen nib and fountain feedbar associated therewith and stored inthe capillary spaces of the latter. So far as this testing of the capillarity of the group of mono-filaments is concerned there has been found to be little'difference between any group of the monolaments picked at random and placed in the container for submergence in the body of ink in the receptacle containing the main supply. In other words, the random straight line condition or waviness of the mono-filaments is such that, relativelyspeaking, the same amount of capillarity is present in each group thus selected.

The optimum capillarity of the group of monollaments is one having the maximum volume of what may be termed effective usable void space. The effective usable void space is that space which is of sufficiently high capillarity to insure that ink will be drawn therein by capillary action from the supply in the ink receptacle and held by surface tension no matter how much or how little inl; remains in the receptacle, and of suiciently low capillarity to permit ink to be drawn from the ink-filled spaces of the group of mono-filaments via channels or passages of the writing assembly for storage in the capillary spaces of the fountain feed-bar.

A further object of our invention is to provide the lower part of the carrier shell with a chamber in which the mono-filaments are loosely confined; such carrier shell having an apertured ring overlying this chamber and holding the mono-filaments against upward displacement. This ring may be retained in place in an annular groove formed in the inner wall of the carrier shell into which it may be snapped when assembling the parts.

A further object of our invention is to aperture the bottom wall of the chamber receiving the mono-filaments; such chamber extending to the bottom of the ink receptacle and the apertures affording passage of ink to the spaces or interstices of the mono-filaments contained in the chamber.

A further object of our invention is to provide the chamber receiving the mono-iilaments with a rounded bottom so that under the effect of repeated insertions of the pen nib and feed-bar of the writing assembly in the ink-filled spaces in the upper zone thereof, there will be a tendency to impart motion to the mono-filaments at each insertion and effect relative displacement of the upper layer. Such displacement will present fresh ink-filled spaces into which the writing assembly will dip. While a chamber with a rounded bottom is preferred, such chamber may be of a diiierent internal contour without departing from our invention.

A further object of our invention is to so mount the carrier for the mono-filaments on the underside of the cover for the ink receptacle that while it may be removed with the cover when it becomes necessary to replenish the supply of ink or to clean the receptacle, such carrier may be readily detached from the cover. If it is necessary to rinse ink residue from the mond-filaments the carrier, after disengagement from the cover, may be held under a stream of water without displacing the mono-filaments; any retained water being drained away before replacement on the cover.

These and other features of our invention are more fully set forth hereinafter; reference being had to the accompanying drawings, more or less diagrammatic in character, in which:

Figure l is a plan view, partly broken away, Of

forming part of our improved writing equipment.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the ink-container and cover, taken on the line II-II, Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View, on a slightly larger scale, of the detachable carrier element by the cover of the ink-container, taken on the line III-III, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View, looking from the underside, of the carrier element supported by and suspended from the cover of the ink-container.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammatic sectional views of the carrier and the pen nib and fountain feed-bar assembly disposed in the dipping opening; such views illustrating the position of pen nibs of dierent lengths with respect to the mono-laments supported in the lower chamber of the carrier.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating a group of the mono-laments in the forml view on the line enlarged scale, illustrating a possible position of r' the mono-filaments with respect to the ends of the pen nib and fountain feed-bar when the latter are in ink-receiving position in the inkiilled spaces of the mono-laments. v

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 75

an ink-container and removable cover therefort more particularly Figs. 1 and 2, the receptacle for ink forming part of the improved writing equipment of our present invention is of substantially the same character as that illustrated in our pending application led December 3l, 1948, Serial No. 68,485. This receptacle comprises a shallow base II, relatively heavy, which may be made of glass, a suitable ceramic, a suitable synthetic resin or other plastic-which may be weighted-or a suitable metal. The base is preferably circular in shape and has a shallow internal space I2, also round, to receive ink.

For closing the ink receptacle we provide a cover I5; flat for the greater part of its extent, and having a rounded, dome-like, portion I5"L provided with a dipping opening I6, which may be of the same character as that found in our pending application; being provided with ribs I6 forming air channels when the writing assembly is in place. The cover has a depending annular wall or ange Ib entering the ink-receiving space of the base, and this wall receives a gasket I1 to insure a leak-proof connection therewith. The gasket may be of the character illustrated in Fig. 2, where it is shown as having an annular resilient flange I'IEL engaging the inner wall of the ink-receiving space, or we may use a gasket of the type illustrated in our pending application. In such instance, the depending annular wall I5b of the cover will be recessed for the reception of the same. The dome-like portion I5a of the cover is provided on its underside with a depending portion or flange I8, which is notched at Ia, and this depending portion is concentrically arranged with respect to the dipping opening I6, and is eccentric to the annular wall or ange I5b. In general, the cover of our present writing equipment is substantially the same as that illustrated in cur pending application above referred to.

Detachably supported by the slotted depending portion I8 of the cover is a carrier 20, of a shape more particularly illustrated in the perspective view, Fig. 4. This carrier is provided with an internal rib 2lia which enters the notch of the depending portion I8; such cooperating parts serving as a guide for the proper positioning of the carrier with respect to the cover. The carrier is of cylindrical construction in its upper part and is provided at the bottom with a transversely disposed chamber 2Ilb for the reception of the group of mono-lilaments indicated at 2`I. The wall at the bottom of the chamber Ztlb is slotted at 20 for the inlet of ink when such chamber is set in place in the ink receptacle; such slotted wall extending to the bottom of the latter. The mono-iilaments are loosely arranged in this chamber and are retained in place by a plate 22 which rests on the bottom wall portion 20X of the cylindrical upper part of the carrier 2t and overlies the mono-filaments loosely disposed in the lower chamber 29", as illustrated in Fig. 3; such plate being heldin place in an annular groove 20d formed in the inner wall of the carrier above the bottom wall portion 29X into which the outer edge of the plate 22 may be snapped when set in place. The plate A22 is provided with a central aperture 22a, preferably circular, whereby the pen nib and the fountain feedbar may contact with and enter an ink-filled space between the mono-filaments when they are inserted in the dipping opening oi the cover.

By reason of the fact that the depth of "a vfull supply of ini: in the receptacleis relatively limited, the dimensions of the chamber in the lower part -ftime.

7 ruf fthe carrier are relatively limited :to insure :therefwill be substantial immersion-of the ,greater .part of the mass of mono-laments in any full .supply vof ink. The -lengthfor vvgreatest vdimension Yim* this chamber is not greater than the diameter of the carrier and the .mono-filaments, vwhich .are approximately .675 :to A.680 in length, :are arranged lengthwise of :this vchamber whose divmension is such that they preferably just :tzbe- 4tween the end walls and substantially :fill the -.chamber. Thisarrangement, plus the presence-of the vplate '22 overlying the mass of -monola lments, insures retention `of rink in their :inkjllled :spaces should the receptacle upset at any fis-approximately twothirds of itslengthwise difmension and it receives approximately 150 -to 16D monoii-laments of the vgauge hereinbefore re- -ferred to.

"The -mono-laments substantially ll :chamber 2Gb but are 'loosely conned 4therein lby the plate so that when the pen nib vand the -ifountain feed-'bar enter the ink-filled spaces in :their-upper zone the Yindividual laments between which such spaces are provided -readily -move "to permit such insertion. The bottom wall fof y.the V,chamber 29h receiving the ,mono-larnents is preferably ,rounded and successive engagement of 'the elements of the writing assembly with the Aupper zone of the mass of mono-filaments has a :tendency to impart -movement to the same .so `that-.there isrelatively speaking, a certain amount .of displacement imparted `to the group to Vchange .the -relative position of the individual Ailaments Awithout affecting thecapillarity of the group or diminishing the usable v oid spaces -or interstices filled with ink. It will lbe understood, of course, v:that we do not'wish to be limited to a chamberifor the mono-laments having a rounded bottom,

since other shapes may be employed V:in 'which the y' mono-filaments are looselyheld and present the `desired spaces or interstices of Icapillary :dimen- .sions for the reception of ink to besupplied ,to the writing assembly.

'The tubular portion I8 -depending from :the

-cover is notched at IBB, as hereinbefore noted, .and the `carrier supporting the mono-filaments :has an internal vrib 29a engaging this notch .for positioning purposes; such notch extending `to the underside of the dome-likegportionfof `the-cover. Above the upperrim of .the :carrier `the topofthe Vnotch provides a passage for free circulation "of vair'from 4the interior `of the -receptacle .to ithe atmosphere via the spaces between :theribs .of :the dipping opening. This free circulation .ofra-ir-fis .desirable when replacing the cover .on the base to prevent surging of the ink.

Thedepending tubular portion Itb of the-:cover providing the dipping opening extends some dis- -tance vinto the carrier shell Y2li, as-clearly :illustrat- ,ed in Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 7. Upon initial filling,

.which should not be above the ledge 23 of A.the base; such ledge preferably carrying a thin ring `,of suitable material indicated at ,24 and having `the legend: Do Not Fill Above This Level .(shown by dotted lines, Fig, 1), there may 4be .a .small amount of loose ink in the lower part of .the `carrier shell above the mono-iilaments, which ink will be gradually consumed as the writing equipment is used. Should the structure acci- .dentally upset, this loose ink will not spill through thedipping opening since it will .be trapped in :the space `surrounding the `depending vtubular :portion ,jefinfudiichthe dippingopeningis formed. Ad- ,1 ditonally, the presence of the morroelaments in The widthwise dimension of the :chamber the the ,lower chamber lof the carrier and :the :retaining plate precludes fthefpossibility of -ink :spilling .from the receptacle :if it should Aupset 'after the loose ink thatmay be in the carrier after initial .iillingvand lying above the 'upper surface Aof :the mono-filaments, has .been fconsumed =in a writing operation.

.As in the structure of Aour pending application before lreferred to, the base yis provided with-:an .upstanding wall 25 surrounding the ink-receiving space upon which the cover or closure rests; the A.outer marginal l'edge of such cover extending :out-

wardly beyond the margin v.of such wall. In fthis position, there is a shallow space between .,cover :and base and the cover may be readily :liftedas desired by the use 'of a small jprya .thin coin, -for `instance-inserted in the space between cover l.and base.

While notlimited thereto vin any way, our im- .proved writing equipment has been 1especially designed for use with a writing assembly .com- :prisingapen nib anda fountain feed-barfinper- Amarient .associationand known to the trade 1andfin the art asa Renew-Point" unit; such structure Abeing illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. In vthis Aconstruction the pen Vnib is indicated at 39,.'and

the fountain yfeed-bar at 3|, and ythese parts are mounted in permanently adjusted .position .and secured together in asleeve 32 vwhich is threaded at 32a for Aconnection witha threadedsoc'ketat the end .of a pen staff or penholder. The .parts 4are arranged in predetermined .andcarefullyadjusted relation and iare permanently vconnected together to maintain this relation and radjustment.

The ,pen .nib is slit .in the usual manner, as indicated at 30H; such slit preferably tapering from the writing point end yto the pierce ;hole,and .the fountain feed-bar .is provided with a comb 3|@ presenting .capillary .storage `spaces Y31h Vfor the receptionand storageof ink passing .thereto from the ink-iilled ,spaces Aof the .mono-jlaments. There is-also a capillary channel ,3 Icon the upper .side of the fountain feed-bar -for the v:passage oi.'

air .and ink. In practice, .there isa narrow space .orchannel .of capillary 4dimensions 'between the underside of the pen nib and the upper surface-of .the feed-bar. This Vspaceis too small .to beillus- .trated in .the cross-sectional view, Fig. 11J but .its position is indicated, and itis particularly illustrated in the enlarged diagrammatic view, Fig. 12.

at m. When the lend of the writing assembly .ven-

lpen staff or p enholder P is .seated in engagement with the ribbed wall thereof, the forward vends .ofthe pen nib and the fountain feed-baireach to yand .enter an ink-.lled space or interstice of the group of mono-filaments, as clearly shown :in Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 7.

In the commercial development of .the "Renew Point :units the pen ,nibs accompanying the same are of different lengths, a factor connected with the particular type of pen and the use to lwhich it :is to be put, and three nibs of diiering length are `illustratedin Figs. 5, 6 and 7. In these diagram- :matic views, the lines "'X indicate the initial levelofrink in the receptacle provided by the base, and the lines 0., ,fb,.and c indicate the Lextrcme Vlengths of v.the respective pen nibs dipping into the ink-filled spaces or interstices in the upper zone of the respective masses of mono-filaments. It will be noted, in each instance, that there is material entrance of the pen nib and fountain feed-bar between individual mono-lilaments and into association with the interconnecting ink-filled spaces or interstices presented thereby for the passage of inl; under capillary action to the storage spaces of the writing assembly.

It will be understood, of course, that any other type of writing assembly, including a pen nib and a fountain feed-bar, may be employed with our improved writing equipment; the only essential condition being that the fountain feedbar shall have capillary storage spaces receiving ink by capillary action from ink-filled spaces or interstices of the mono-filaments. As hereinbefore set forth, we may employ the form of Writing assembly set forth in the application of Henry C. Klagges, one ci' the present applicants, filed May 17, 1947, Serial No. 748,675, now Patent Number 2,601,846.

l It will be understood that the mono-filaments; in their loosely confined position in the chamber 2Gb of the carrier will present various forms of interstices or void spaces; a condition due to their arrangement and to any irregular or wavy connguration that may be present. We have shown in Fig. l2 a greatly enlarged diagrammatic view of a group of the mono-filaments in their position relatively to the inserted portions of the pen nib and the fountain feed-bar. IThe optimum relation would be to have one of the monolaments, that indicated at ZIZ, for instance, lie at the end of the fountain feed-bar adjacent to the underside of the pen nib, with other monofilaments presenting ink-iilled spaces or interstices in relative position with respect thereto so that ink will rise from these ink-filled spaces and, passing via the narrow capillary channel :c

between the pen nib and the end of the fountain feed-bar, fill the capillary storage spaces of the latter.

In our improved writing equipment, the capillary material-the group of mono-filamentsproviding the ink-filled spaces or interstices and from which the fountain feed-bar and pen nib receive a supply of ink is so positioned with respect to the dipping opening in the cover that the writing assembly may receive, in any position it may occupy with respect to the dipping opening, a supply of ink by capillary action from that contained in the ink-filled spaces of the mono-filaments no matter what the position of such filaments may be with respect to the inserted portion of the writing assembly.

The unitary extruded mono-filaments are usually substantially circular in cross-section. Some of the plastic compositions when extruded, hardened and/cr cured may have other crosssectional contours or shapes, and the same filament may vary in cross-sectional shape throughout its length. Some filaments are substantially non-stretchable while others may be stretched to vary or reduce their crosssectional dimension. When arranged in substantially parallel relation and placed in the chamber of the carrier their position, with or without a wavy configuration of some filaments, insures the presence of a large number of usable void spaces or interstices functioning under capillary action to receive, elevate and retain a supply of ink for passage to the capillary spaces of the writing assembly.

As used in this specification the term capillarity or capillary action designates the tendency of a fluid to advance and/or rise into capillary spaces or channels. If, for example, the capillary channels lead from a common reservoir containing a liquid, the capillary channels into which the liquid advances to the greatest height against the force of hydrostatic pressure may be referred to as having the greater capillarity. With similarly shaped capillary channels having similar surface configurations or contours that capillary with the smallest effective area would produce the greatest capillary ascension and thus could be said to have the greatest capillarity. On the other hand, with two capillary channels of identical effective areas and different surface properties, the one having such surface proporties as would produce the greater rise of liquid therein would be referred to as having the greater capillarity.

A further important feature of our improved writing equipment resides in the fact that as only the extreme end of the pen nib dips into the inkfilled spaces or interstices of the mono-filaments, the pen nib is maintained in a cleanly condition at all times.

It will be understood that the constructional details shown in the accompanying drawings and hereinbefore described are for illustrative purposes only and not as limitations, since modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of our invention; all of which is deemed to be within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. An inkwell comprising a base receptacle containing ink, a cover therefor having a depending flange and a dipping opening inclined to the perpendicular; a iiexible gasket between the depending iiange and base receptacle whereby the cover may be maintained in liquid tight engagement yet readily removable, a carrier detachably hung from the underside of the cover in axial alignment with the dipping opening; said carrier having a chamber in its bottom portion having a rounded and apertured wall extending to the bottom of the ink-containing portion of the base receptacle whereby ink may enter said chamber, and a group of mono-filaments loosely conned in the rounded bottom chamber of the carrier; said mono-filaments being horizontally arranged and in substantial parallel relation and presenting a plurality of initially void spaces or interstices in which ink may rise by capillary action; such structure being adapted for association with a writing assembly including a pen nib and a fountain feed-bar having capillary storage spaces which may be mounted in the dipping opening whereby the pen nib and feed-bar may dip into the ink-illed interstices of the group of mono-filaments.

2. An inkwell structure comprising a base receptacle having a shallow ink-containing space, a removable cover therefor having a dipping opening inclined to the perpendicular, a flange integral with the cover and arranged below the same and in concentric relation with respect to the dipping opening, a carrier detachably hung from said integral flange; said carrier extending to the bottom of the ink-containing space and having an opening in its bottom wall for the entrance of ink, a plurality of independent monofilaments disposed in the bottom of said carrier and arranged horizontally and in substantially parallel relation; said mono-filaments presenting a plurality of initially void spaces or interstices in which ink may rise by capillary action; such structure being adaptedY for association with a writing assembly including a pen nib and fountain feed-bar having capillary storage spaces for ink arranged within the dipping opening and dipping into the ink-filled interstices of the monofilaments.

3. An inkwell comprising a base receptacle having a shallow ink-receiving space circular in contour, a detachable cover having a dipping opening with ay bore inclinedv to the perpendicular; said cover having a depending annular flange entering the ink-receiving space of the base receptacle, a iiexible gasket carried by said annular ilange and providing a liquid-tight joint between the cover and the wall of the ink-receiving space, a second annular iiange depending from the cover and concentrically arranged with respect to the bore of the dipping opening, a i

carrier shell detachably hung from said lastmentioned iiange in axial alignment with the bore of the'dipping opening, a group of monofilaments horizontally disposed in said carrier shell in substantially parallel relation and presenting a plurality of interstices in which ink may rise by capillary action, and means for confining saidmono-laments in a relatively loose condition in the bottom portion of said carrier shell; said carrier shell` dipping to the bottom` of the ink-receiving space and having an opening in its bottom wall only for the passage o1" ink from the supply in the base receptacle to the group of mono-laments.

4. An inkwell comprising a base receptacle containing ink, a removable cover therefor having a pair of depending flanges and a dipping opening inclined to the perpendicular and concentrically arranged with respect to the inner depending iiange, a iiexible gasket between the outer depending flange and base receptacle whereby the cover may be maintained in liquidtight engagement therewith yet readily removable, a' carrier detachably hung from the inner depending iiange in axial alignment with the dipping opening; said carrier having an. apertured bottom wall extendingto the bottom ofthe ink-containing space of the base receptacle,..and a group ofmono-laments horizontally arranged in substantial parallel relation loosely. confined in thebottomof theV carrier and presenting a plurality ofinitially void spaces or. interstices into which inl:v passing through said apertured bottom wall may rise by capillary actiong. such structure being adapted forV association with a writing assembly-including a pen nib andafountain feed-bar having capillary storage which may. be mounted in the dipping opening. whereby the pen nib and the feed-bar may dip into the inklled interstices of the group of mono-filaments.

5. An inkwell. comprising areceptacle for containing. a supply of. ink, a. cover therefor having a dipping. openingconstructed toA receive t'ne point of a writing assembly, carrier means depending from said cover into the ink space of the recep.- tacle and beingV disposed below the dipping opening and in liquid communication with said' ink space, a group of mono-filaments loosely conned in said carrier means, said mono-iilarnents` being arranged horizontally and in substantially parallel relation and together presenting a mul-r tiplicity of inter-filament voids into which ink may flow by capillary acticnfrom saidink space, said carrier means positioning said' group` of:

12 mono-filaments at a level? such thatA a writing pointreceived in the dipping opening may reach and dipinto saidf group,- said mono-iilaments consequent to their loose confinement in said carrier means being readily displaceable with respect to one another whereby the writing point may dip freely intosaid group of mono-filaments.

6. .Any inkwell as set forth in claim 5, wherein the cover is removable from the receptacle and is provided with sealing means for sealing said cover in liquid-tight engagement with the receptacle.

'7. An inkwell as setv forth in claim 5, wherein the carrier means is detachablyhung froml the under side of thecover.

8. An inkwell asset forth in claim 5, wherein the carrier means includes an upper Cylindrical portion and a rounded bottom` portion in which latter the mono-lilaments are disposed', said rounded bottom portion being apertured whereby ink may owfrom thereceptacle ink space to the inter-iilament voids.

9-. An inkwell as set forth in claim 5', wherein the cover isprovided on its under face withan annular Flange concentric with the dipping opening, and'- said carrier means includes an upper cylindrical portion. detachably secured to said flange and a rounded bottom portion in which the mono-iilamentsV are. disposed and which is provided with an aperture'opening to the receptacle inkV space.

10. An inkwell as setforth i-n claim 5, wherein. said cover is provided-omits under face-with concentric angesof whichithe inner iiange'- denes the dipping opening, and wherein said carrier means includes a cylindricalfupper portion detachably secured totheA outer cover 'ange and-a rounded bottom portion in which the mono-filaments are disposed, in'combination with anaper-1 tured retainer plate disposed intermediate the upper and lower portions of the carrier means forretainingthe mono-filament in said rounded bottom portion.

l1. An inlrwellv as set forth in claim 5, wherein the cover-is provided onv its` under face with adepending flange' concentric with the dipping opening and said'carrier meansv includes an'upper portion fittedto` said flange, said flange beingprovidedV with a; ventY establishing atmospheric communicationI between the* receptacle interior and said. dipping opening..

12; An inkwellasset forth in claim 5, wherein the mono-laments consistof" extruded strands of Nylon References Gited inl the le ofV this patent UNITErD` STATES. PATENTS 

